Don't Knock the Rock (1956)

User Rating:

5.1/10   

Director:

Fred F. Sears

Writers:

Robert E. Kent (screenplay)
Robert E. Kent (story)

Release Date:

14 December 1956 (USA)

Genre:

Music

Tagline:

Rock'N'Roll Will Save The Day!

Plot:

A disc jockey tries to prove to teenagers' parents that rock 'n' roll is harmless and won't turn their kids into juvenile delinquents.

Plot Keywords:

Rock Music | Reference To Kim Novak | Sequel

Cast

Alan Dale	...	Arnie Haines
Patricia Hardy	...	Francine MacLaine
Alan Freed	...	Himself
Fay Baker	...	Arlene MacLaine
Jana Lund	...	Sunny Everett
Pierre Watkin	...	Mayor George Bagley
Bill Haley	...	Himself
Franny Beecher	...	Himself (lead guitarist, The Comets) (as The Comets)
Rudy Pompilli	...	Himself (saxophonist, The Comets) (as The Comets)
Al Rex	...	Himself (bass player, The Comets) (as The Comets)
Billy Williamson	...	Himself (steel guitarist, The Comets) (as The Comets)
Johnny Grande	...	Himself (pianist, The Comets) (as The Comets)
Ralph Jones	...	Himself (drummer, The Comets) (as The Comets)
Dave Appell	...	Himself
Applejacks	...	Themselves

Also Known As:

Hi Fi (USA) (working title)
Rhythm and Blues (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

84 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Certification:

USA:TV-G | Finland:S | West Germany:12 | Sweden:Btl

Filming Locations:

Iverson Ranch, Chatsworth, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Clover Productions

Trivia:

According to an article in the September 16, 1957 issue of Billboard Magazine, producer Sam Katzman intended to follow Don't Knock the Rock with a third film featuring Bill Haley and Alan Freed, with production intended to begin in 1958. It was ultimately never produced.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: The dialog indicates that Arnie Haines' home town is somewhere in New England when he discusses going home for vacation, but the train that he gets off has the logo of the Sunset Limited on three cars. The Sunset Limited was a luxury train of the Southern Pacific Railroad that ran along the California Coast.

Quotes:

Arnie Haines: He seems to think that running around in my underwear or getting thrown out of my hotel is news. And does that sound like news to you guys?
Member of Applejacks: If you were Kim Novak, it might.
Arnie Hains: Oh, very funny.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Super Night of Rock 'n' Roll (1984) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Rockin' on Saturday Night

Rock 'n' roller must prove himself.

A rock 'n' roll singer played by Alan Dale takes time out from his busy schedule to vacation back in his home town. The town's teens are there to meet the train; but the Mayor of Melonville warns the singer that his kind is not thought of too highly. DJ Alan Freed schedules a big charity dance to convince a newspaper columnist there is no harm in the new form of music.

Also in the cast are Jana Lund, Patricia Hardy and Gail Ganley. Spotlight musical acts are: Bill Haley & the Comets, Little Richard, the Treniers and Dave Appell & the Apple Jacks.

Low budget "B" flick produced by 'king of the quickies', Sam Katzman. Interesting to watch Haley & the Comets and Little Richard perform.